Treatments, health professionals and therapies

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Jo3 Stopped anti depressants!!
  • replies: 7

It's been about a week (I think, I really can't remember) when I decided to stop my meds. I only take one AD. I know a lot of you are going to "tell me off" and say Jo get back on them. But the thing is - how do I know when I need to stop. I wanted t... View more

It's been about a week (I think, I really can't remember) when I decided to stop my meds. I only take one AD. I know a lot of you are going to "tell me off" and say Jo get back on them. But the thing is - how do I know when I need to stop. I wanted to come off them to see how I would feel and act. Well to be honest I have been not too bad, except last night I was thinking of saying goodbye to my workmates (as I have just got a new job 5 mins from home, still in pharmacy) and as I lay in bed I broke down crying non stop. But I don't know if my pmt is not helping as well. Oh I don't know what to think - I really would like to come off the AD. I am going to phone my pyschiatrist this morning and tell him and I have a session tonight with my therapist. I know that I will get a lot of people telling me to ............... ok I have made a mistake and I need to go back on them. I am crying so much now that I can't even type. I hope that no one judges me or thinks that I am "silly" for doing what I've done. I'm now confused. I'm sorry I should not have put this on here. Has anyone else ever done this? Jo

Nikolette22 Diagnosed with depression (6years) but recently learned about what bipolar II is. My psychologist keeps avoiding discussing this with me, why?
  • replies: 4

Ok so I've been on a super depression for the last 4 months so I booked in to see a clinical psychologist. Within 5 minutes he asked me if I had bipolar. I said no as my only knowledge of bipolar included psychotic episodes which I have never had. so... View more

Ok so I've been on a super depression for the last 4 months so I booked in to see a clinical psychologist. Within 5 minutes he asked me if I had bipolar. I said no as my only knowledge of bipolar included psychotic episodes which I have never had. so we moved on in the discussion. After the the session though, I decided to read a bit more about bipolar to find out what is was. The description of the "ups" of Bipolar II were extremely indicative of me when I'm feeling my "normal" happy self. I did the black dog inst self assessment and got 43. They say a score of 22 or more could indicates bipolar disorder. So I emailed my psychologist and thanked him for our first session as I felt like he was the right person to help me and I said that I had had a look at bipolar II and it rang extremely true with me and could we discuss it in our next session. In the next session, he thanked me for my email and then he talked the entire session about Freudian theory. The buzzer went off and I asked if we could discuss the possibility of bipolar next time. So I had my 3rd session today and he again did most of the talking (about confidence) and I asked if my extreme confidence could be to do with bipolar II. He said no and moved on. wtf? Is he avoiding this for some reason?

Perrybj Starting medication for the first time, worried...
  • replies: 5

I have just been prescribed medication for depression. I have never had medication before and I'm worried about starting it... I am worried because I often hear people with depression want to go off there medication as they hate it etc.. I'm also sca... View more

I have just been prescribed medication for depression. I have never had medication before and I'm worried about starting it... I am worried because I often hear people with depression want to go off there medication as they hate it etc.. I'm also scarred because it makes it all seem real..

NicoleP ACT Conference
  • replies: 5

Hi All I am attending the Russ Harris 2 day ACT Conference tomorrow in Melbourne. I am really looking forward to it and hope that I can get lots of good information to share. KezzaA

Hi All I am attending the Russ Harris 2 day ACT Conference tomorrow in Melbourne. I am really looking forward to it and hope that I can get lots of good information to share. KezzaA

guest151 New to Melbourne, looking for a good doctor
  • replies: 2

hey im new to this really looking for help i have bad depression and im on meds for it they dont really do anything for me help me sleep a bit better i want to find a good doctor and i dont know any i aint from melbourne im from ireland so its worse ... View more

hey im new to this really looking for help i have bad depression and im on meds for it they dont really do anything for me help me sleep a bit better i want to find a good doctor and i dont know any i aint from melbourne im from ireland so its worse im getting been away from family and friends i have nobody to talk to if someone can recommend a good doctor id be so greatful or have some advice

_Emerald_ When help doesn't help...
  • replies: 2

I'm not sure if it's me but I am having so much trouble finding help that well... helps... I'll give you some history... I have a lot of different medical problems that have caused anxiety and depression symptoms in me. (I call them this because I ha... View more

I'm not sure if it's me but I am having so much trouble finding help that well... helps... I'll give you some history... I have a lot of different medical problems that have caused anxiety and depression symptoms in me. (I call them this because I have never been formally diagnosed with anything to date.) In addition, I have was involved in a two year relationship that was abusive and ended badly. Anyway I had to ignore these symptoms and carry on because I was trying to finish year 12 and shortly after graduating I moved. I had a breakdown at jobs I was working at at the time and they told me to me call their work provided counselling line. He was very quick to say that I had PTSD and that I needed psychotherapy... or something like that. I went to the doctor and he had the nurse call the CAT team and draw up a mental health plan. She was quite rude and I felt that she was quite invasive with her questioning. Anyway, she dumped a list of psychologists in front on me and told me to pick one. I saw the CAT team and they told me that I have depression and said that they would try to get in contact with my GP to recommend that I be put on anti-depressants. I saw the GP again and there he ignored the recommendation even after I mentioned it to him. I also called the psychologist and was promptly told that there was a 3 month waiting list for her. I knew I couldn't wait that long but was too depressed to do anything about it. As I got worse I quit my job and my sister called headspace and I had an appointment about a month after. The therapist who I saw appeared to not want to treat me and kept suggesting I go elsewhere... I don't want to say what that clinic was so I'm going to call it X. I stopped going to headspace because she was not helping me at all and after a lot of convincing from friends I eventually went to X about 3 months after my last appointment at headspace. Anyway, I didn't find the therapy there that productive and I was still without a diagnosis or any kind of treatment other than talking about how I'm feeling. I eventually moved back home because I couldn't support myself any longer and went to doctor and two psychologists. One of which didn't want to treat me and the other has limited appointments available. Running out of room... I just want to know if this is a common story with people or if there is something I am not doing right... I really, really need more support and I don't know what else to do. I'm so lost.

guest149 Looking for inpatient hospital
  • replies: 7

Hello my friends, I am not in your country, but live in USA. I don't know if I am allowed to be in this forum for that reason. I am gay and was kicked out of the US military before it became legal in our country to serve actively being gay under Obam... View more

Hello my friends, I am not in your country, but live in USA. I don't know if I am allowed to be in this forum for that reason. I am gay and was kicked out of the US military before it became legal in our country to serve actively being gay under Obama. I am now a veteran. Our system is the VA for patients with PTSD. I have severe depression, nightmares, PTSD, anxiety and panic. ADHD, you name it. I am hanging by a thread and in desperate need of help. VA just crams pills down my throat and throws in a few therapy sessions, but I need more than that. Being gay does not help. I have been hospitalized in the psych ward at VA but as you can expect, over testosteroned grizzled old Vietnam and Iraq vets, watching their football constantly is not an environment for healing. I love classical music but they don't allow media players. I'll make this short. Does anyone know of a hospital in your country that has a good program for depression, one where I don't have to hide who I am?. I think I need a serious diversion from this culture. I have other feelers out in other countries but will be getting my disability from VA soon so I can afford a trip and hospitalization and need this or if I don't get help soon, I am afraid I am done I am tired of living. I have lived with this for 30 years.

Selly Energy Drinks and Anxiety/Depression
  • replies: 6

I have recently dropped back into a mild depression/anxiety about 5 weeks ago after returing from overseas. In the leadup to my holiday I used to have a can of Monster Energy drinkj once a day - it was somehting I wanted to stop due to the perceived ... View more

I have recently dropped back into a mild depression/anxiety about 5 weeks ago after returing from overseas. In the leadup to my holiday I used to have a can of Monster Energy drinkj once a day - it was somehting I wanted to stop due to the perceived health issues and so I did when I wentOS for a month. Since rtuerning I have had two cans in the last two weeks and both times have noticed that I felt a lot more calm and balanced after lost that hoorible anxiousness in my stomach. I dont partocualy want to go back to consuming these drinks on a daily basis but was interested ti know if anyone else had experienced similar or would know why this is the case?

JessC Does medication really help?
  • replies: 4

Hi there, I was clinically diagnosed with moderate to severe depression this morning by my local GP. She has recommended that I start medication to help assist me back to normality. My parents have always been skeptical about this and makes me wonder... View more

Hi there, I was clinically diagnosed with moderate to severe depression this morning by my local GP. She has recommended that I start medication to help assist me back to normality. My parents have always been skeptical about this and makes me wonder if medication is the answer. Can anyone enlighten me with some personal experiences whereby medication has actually helped them and allowed them to get back on track? Thank you, Jess